Abortion: meaning, definitions and examples

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abortion

[ əˈbɔːrʃ(ə)n ]

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medical procedure

Abortion is the deliberate termination of a human pregnancy, most often performed during the first 28 weeks of pregnancy.

Synonyms

termination, termination of a pregnancy, termination of pregnancy

Examples of usage

Many countries have laws regulating abortion.
She decided to have an abortion due to health concerns.
The debate over abortion rights continues to be a controversial issue.
Access to safe and legal abortion is a fundamental reproductive right.
Abortion rates have been declining in recent years.

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informal usage

Abortion is also used informally to refer to the ending or abandoning of something before it is completed.

Synonyms

abandonment, premature ending, termination

Examples of usage

The cancellation of the project was seen as an abortion of potential progress.
He described the decision to shut down the company as an abortion of their dreams.
The abrupt ending of the concert felt like an abortion of the evening's entertainment.

Translations

Translations of the word "abortion" in other languages:

🇵🇹 aborto

🇮🇳 गर्भपात

🇩🇪 Abtreibung

🇮🇩 aborsi

🇺🇦 аборт

🇵🇱 aborcja

🇯🇵 中絶 (ちゅうぜつ)

🇫🇷 avortement

🇪🇸 aborto

🇹🇷 kürtaj

🇰🇷 낙태 (naktae)

🇸🇦 إجهاض

🇨🇿 potrat

🇸🇰 potrat

🇨🇳 堕胎 (duòtāi)

🇸🇮 splav

🇮🇸 fóstureyðing

🇰🇿 аборт

🇬🇪 აბორტი

🇦🇿 abort

🇲🇽 aborto

Word origin

The word 'abortion' dates back to the mid-16th century, with its origins in Latin 'abortio' meaning 'miscarriage' or 'premature birth'. The modern medical usage to refer to the deliberate termination of a pregnancy emerged in the 19th century. The topic of abortion has been a subject of intense debate and controversy, touching on ethical, moral, religious, and legal issues.